I'm in the process of doing this to a precision bass that I got for basically nothing, would you recommend doing this mod with a bass with standard string spacing at the nut (1-5/8").

When I did out the math before, I figured I could get away with 16.5mm spacing at the bridge, although I'm not sure if the strings would be too far off the side of the fretboard.

-Ron

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With a p-bass you need a 5th tuner, a new nut, and a new bridge. I simply get a tuner that looks like the other 4, and I get a blank nut and cut it, and a new 5 string bridge from ebay. The existing pickups usually work.

Then in the 80s Rickenbacker made the 4003s5. Basically they put 5 strings on a 4 string bass and neck. http://www.3dentourage.com/425/89-4003s5.htm This bass had the Rick tone but it was difficult to play. The string spacing at the bridge was 2 1/16" because they used the 4 string neck. Also all Rickenbacker pickups are guitar pickups designed to cover 6 guitar strings spaced 2" to 2 1/8" at the bridge. Their bass pickups are either the same exact pickups as the guitar version or a guitar pickup with 4 poles instead of 6. The humbuckers and the toaster pickups are the same exact pickup. After years of criticism and poor sales the 4003s5 was discontinued. The came out with the 4003cii5. It was a beautiful bass with as string spacing similar to a Musicman Stingray. But they used their guitar pickups which effectively turned the bass into a 3 string bass. Those who waited for this new 5 string bass were appaled by the epic flaw in the pickups. When they contacted Rickenbacker they were informed that it was their problem or that is was a phasing problem. So the owners had 2 choices ... play a 3 string bass or replace the pickups.

Arguments about this topic appeared on the Rickenbacker and Rickresource forums. I got booted from the Rickresource forum for being a vocal critic of Rickenbacker's lack of ability to make a proper 5 string bass.